Electric lock-strike.



PATENTED FEB. 20, 1906.

H. P. SMITH.

ELECTRIC LOCK STRIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 4, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

"- Ii n" M a W t m a No. 813,119. PATENTED FEB. 20, 1906. H. E. SMITH.

ELECTRIC LOOK STRIKE.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 4, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Wilt" cub akbozmug4 UNITED STATES PATENT oricn HARRY F. SMITH, OFRICHMOND, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO J. S. HOPKINS AND ONE-THIRDTO GEO. J. HOOPER, OF RICHMOND,

VIRGINIA.

ELECTRIC LOCK-STRIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 20, 1906.

- Application filed January 4, 1905. $eria1N0. 239,633.

[0 a, whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY F. SMITH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Richmond, in the county of Henrico and State of Virginia,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ElectricLock-Strikes, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide means for unlocking doors oftheaters, hotels, tenement-houses, &c., from any given point in case offire or any other emergency. The controlling-points may be located atthe ticket-oflice of a theater, the clerks office of a hotel, thejanitors office of a tenementhouse, or by a proper arrangement of theWires the controlling-points may be arranged at more than one place.

In case of hotels and tenement-houses it can be arranged to unlock thedoors of each floor independent of the others or they can all bereleased simultaneously and ring an alarm-bell at one or more pointsupon each fioor. It is a well-known fact that valuable time is lost andlives endangered by misplaced keys that are difficult to find during theexcitement caused by a fire and in case of a theater fire by theimpossibility of the ush ers to get to the exit-doors to unlock them.

This invention provides simple and posi tive means for effecting arelease of the exit- 'closures when required, so that a building holdinga concourse of people may be quickly emptied, thereby avoiding acalamity which might otherwise occur through failure of the exitsbecoming unobstructed.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and alsoto acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means foreffecting the result reference is to be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings.

While the invention may be adapted to different forms and conditions bychanges in the structure and minor details without departing from thespirit or essential features thereof, still the preferred embodimentthere- I of is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 isa detail view of an electric lockthe invention, the casing releaseembodying being in section. Fig. 2 1s a view similar to Fig. 1, showingthe relation of the parts after the electromagnet has been energized toeffect a release of the slide and the latter is moved to clear thelock-bolt and to cut its electromagnet out of circuit and theelectromagnet of the next release in series into circuit. Fig. 3 is asection on the line 00 {B of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a section on the line 'yy of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a diagram of circuits.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the samereference characters.

The operating parts are inclosed in a casing 1, which corresponds to thekeeper of a lock, since the lock-bolt is shot therein when thedoor-closure or the like is secured. A portion of the casing 1 is closedby means of a slide B, which when withdrawn frees the lock-bolt 2 andadmits of the door or like closure 3 opening. The releasing mechanismfor the lock-bolt of the door or closure is electrically controlled andcomprises an electromagnet D, cooperating armature K, and a switch H,the latter being attached. to the slide B and movable therewith.

A series of electric contacts a, I), and 0 cperate in conjunction withthe switch 11, whereby in a multiple series of lock-releasing devicesthey are successively cut into and out of circuit, thereby enabling theemploy ment of a comparative low current. The slide B is normally actedupon by a retracting force represented by a contractile spring 4,secured at one end to the slide B and at its opposite end to aconvenient portion of the casing 1. The armature K under normalconditions serves to hold the slide B extended across the open side ofthe casing 1 and engages with a lug or stop 70, projected inwardtherefrom. A spring 5 exerts a force upon the armature K to hold it inengagement with the stop 7c. The switch I'I preferably consists of aspring secured at one end in any manner to the slide B and having itsopposite end portion provided with a plate 6 to bridge and makeelectrical connection with any two of the contacts a, l), and c. Whenthe slide B is projected so as to close the open portion of the casing1, the switchplate 6 closes the circuit through the concircuit throughthe contacts a tacts a and 6, whereby the electromagnet will beenergized upon the closing of the electric circuit by means of anycircuit-closing de vice, as the switch 7. (Illustrated in the diagramFig. 5.) I

Doors and like closures are usually hinged so as to swing outward or inone direction, and care should be exercised to arrange thelock-releasing mechanism so that the open side of the casing 1 faces inthe direction of the outward swing of the door or closure to effect arelease thereof in an emergency. Under normal conditions the lock-bolt 2of the lock mechanism when projected into the keeper or casing 1 isconfined by thesides thereof in the manner well understood. Shouldoccasion require automatic release of the lock without having recourseto the key or other accustomed appliance, the electromagnet is energizedby sending a current therethrough, and the armature K being attracted isdisengaged from the stop 7c, thereby releasing the slide B, which underthe influence of the spring 4 is withdrawn, thereby permitting the door3 to swing outward, as the lock-bolt 2 is no longer confined by theslide or movable portion of the keeper. This is shown most clearly inFig. 3.

Where a number of doors or closures are included in a multiple series,the circuits are substantially as shown in the diagram Fig. 5, so thatupon closing the circuit through the first releasing mechanism of theseries the remainder are automatically and successively cut into and outof circuit. It is preferred to include an alarm in the circuit andarrange the same so that the last releasing mechai1- ism of the serieswhen automatically cutting itself out of circuit will close thealarm-circuit and give warning of impending danger. Any system of wiringmay be employed which will admit of the release mechanisms automaticallyand successively cutting themselves into and out of circuit.

Referring to the diagram Fig. 5, E represents the battery, and D, D, andD indicate the electromagnets of amultiple series of three releasemechanisms. The slides or movable parts of the keepers or casings arerepresent ed by the referenceletters B, B, and B and 7c, 7c, and k arethe stops of the respective slides, which cooperate with the respectivearmatures K, K, and K The electrical switches are indicated at H, H, andH and cooperate with the respective groups of electrical contacts a, b,and c, a, b, and c, and M, N, and c The wiring or circuits may bedescribed as follows: starting at battery E, through wire 6,electromagnet 1), wire (Z, contact a, switch H, contact I), and wire f,back to battery E. Upon establishing this circuit the electromagnet D isenergized and the slide B released j and the switch moved so as tointerrupt the complete it through the contacts I) and c. This secondcircuit is as follows: from battery i E, through wire 6, electromagnetD, electrical wire (1, contact a, switch H, contact 1), wire h, contact0, switch H, contact I), and wire f, back to battery E. The secondcircuit when completed results in releasing the slide of movable part Band in shifting of the switch H so as to interrupt the circuitthrough'the contacts a and b and establish a new circuit through thecontacts 0 and b. This third circuit is as follows: from battery E,through wire e electromagnet D electrical wire d contact a switch Hcontact 1), wire h, contact 0, switch H, contact 1), wire h, contact 0,switch H, contact I), and wire f, back to battery E. This third circuitis representative of the last circuit of the series of lock-releasingdevices and when completed likewise results in cutting its electromagnetD out of circuit and a shifting of the switch H so as to throw thealarm-circuit into action. This circuit is as follows: from battery E,through wire 9 and bell G included therein to contact 0 switch H contact6 wire h, contact 0, switch H, contact 6, wire it, contact a, switch H,contact I), and wire f, back to battery E.

From the foregoing it will be understood that a low-power current may besuccessfully and advantageously used, thus reducing the cost ofinstallation and renewal. This result follows from the peculiar wiringwhereby the locks are successively released.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. Akeeper or casing to receive the lockbolt of a lock mechanism whenprojected and having a movable portion for normally confining saidlock-bolt, means normally tending to throw the movable part of thekeeper aside to release the lock-bolt, a stop mechanism holding themovable portion projected against the action of the retracting means,and an electromagnet included in a circuit to effect release of saidstop mechanism, substantially as set forth.

2. Akeeper or casing for confining the lockbolt of a lock mechanism whenprojected, the same having a movable portion to effect release of saidlock-bolt, an electrical circuit for effecting release of said movablepart, and a switch controlled by said movable part for interrupting theaforesaid electrical circuit and closing a second electrical circuit,substantially as set forth.

3. A series of lock-releasing devices, each comprising an electromagnet,amovable part, a group of electric contacts and a switch atpart forsuccessively throwing the circuits I into action and cutting them out ofaction.

4. In combination, a series of electric lockreleasing devices eachincluded in an indeand b and to I pendent circuit and comprising amovable tached to and operating with said movable part, a group ofelectric contacts and a switch In testimony whereof I affix my signatureactuated by means if the movable part to in presence of two Witnesses.successively throw t e e ectric circuits into action and cutting themout of action, and HARRY SMITH 5 an alarm-circuit thrown into action bythe Witnesses:

last lock-release mechanism of the series, sub WILLOUGHBY NEWTON, J r.stantially as set forth. GEO. J. HOOPER.

